Being Geek Chic is a blog about one woman navigating the male-dominated industries of production and tech. It's written by Elizabeth Giorgi, Founder, CEO and Director of Mighteor - one of the world's first internet video production companies. Learn more about Mighteor here.
Samantha Pennington has one of the best day jobs we’ve come across—she spends her days reading. As the Community Engagement Specialist at Wattpad, she reads through fanfiction submissions. Pennington first joined the Wattpad team in 2013 as a content intern, and she’s been the resident fanfiction guru since June 2014.
Aside from being a voracious reader, Pennington is an enthusiastic eater and an intersectional feminist. She is fascinated by fandom, modernist literature, popular culture, and emojis. When she’s not scouring the internet, you can find her daydreaming, binge-watching television shows, and petting other people’s dogs.
Follow Pennington on Wattpad @samantha, Tumblr, and Twitter at @sammietutu and read on—we asked her about the most unexpected fanfic story she’s read to date, and trust us, it’s worth diving in.
Q: How did you discover your passion and arrive at Wattpad?
A: I’ve been a fangirl for as long as I can remember, and my passion for fandom was always a natural inclination. I was super keen and precocious as a kid, devouring books, TV shows, and movies with unparalleled zeal. I penned tomes of Harry Potter fanfiction with my bookish elementary school friends, joined roleplay forums, and engaged in serious debates about the futures of my favourite fictional characters online. My penchant for literature, pop culture, fandom, and media grew throughout university, and it was actually all of these things that helped me land an internship on the content team at Wattpad. Today, I’m lucky enough to be able to fangirl in a professional capacity as a Community Engagement Specialist for Fanfiction.
Q: If you had to pick, what’s the best part of your job?
A: As Wattpad’s resident fanfic guru, I’ve had the privilege of immersing myself in a community that knows no bounds (in the best and most interesting ways) and becoming fandom trash in the process. One of the best parts of my job at Wattpad is interacting with fannish writers and readers every day and seeing the immense power and potential of such a creative and enthusiastic breed with which I so avidly identify. Learning about other fandoms, joining new ones, and getting to know amazing people in the process is so much fun. I love being able to connect with people and the stories they tell, and I think the ways in which they choose to do so is something that continues to fascinate me.
Q: What’s the most unexpected Wattpad fanfic story you’ve read?
A: The most unexpected fanfic I’ve read on Wattpad is called Kim Kardashian: Trapped in Her Own Game by a wonderful, hilarious writer (and friend) named kfan. Basically, the real Kim (who wants to smash the patriarchy) becomes stuck inside the world of the Kim Kardashian Hollywood game and must use her powers as an emoji-casting witch to defeat the forces of evil that threaten to keep her from getting back to the real world. It’s a fun, smart read, rife with celebs, pop culture references, and lots of laughs.
Q: If you could take any fictional character out for a drink, whom would you choose and what would you drink?
A: This is such a difficult question to answer, but the first fictional character that popped into my head was Kat Stratford from the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You. We would drink tequila and dance on tables, obviously.
Q: What would you tell your 13-year-old self?
A: Hating stuff isn’t cool. Your passions and obsessions are valid. Embrace your geekiness and make it your own.
Emma Bauer is a Being Geek Chic Contributor. Clearly, she’s got great taste. She is a PR enthusiast, dog lover, tea drinker, art appreciator, and of course, aspires to Be Geek Chic. Follow her on Twitter: @emmalynnbauer
So many of today’s biggest blockbuster movies come from other material, like comic books, novels, memoirs or even older versions of the movie. That’s why an original screenplay can feel so magical. It’s a story that is confined to a specific moment with characters who are defined in their own right.
If you’ve never actually sat down and read a screenplay before, I recommend trying it. You’ll be shocked to find that most production screenplays are tightened up to match what happens in the final cut of the film, but if you can find an original, you should do so.
1. Juno: I mean, it won an Oscar, so it can’t be bad. But in terms of irreverent comedy that works just as well in the written word as it does on screen, you can’t beat Diablo Cody’s Hollywood debut.
2. Annie Hall: There are two kinds of romantic comedies: ones that came before Annie Hall. And those that came after Annie Hall and still don’t measure up to Annie Hall. It’s really that simple. And more than anything, it’s a lot of fun to see just how awkward everything feels even when you can’t see Woody Allen’s face along with it.
3. Citizen Kane: This is one of those movies that everyone should see once and if they are a good American, already has seen at least once. BUT, if you haven’t, do me a favor: read the screenplay for this incredible story first. Then, go do your patriotic duty and watch this movie. I’ve always wanted to know if the fresh read is as shimmeringly brilliant as the first time you sit through a showing of the film and I need your help. That’s how much I love this story both on the page and on the screen.
Books have made my life better in innumerable ways, however, here’s a top 10 list:
1. Books helped me heal in difficult times
2. Books helped me hone my craft
3. Books helped me understand myself better
4. Books helped me understand others better
5. Books helped me escape
6. Books helped me learn…everything (is that too over the top?!) from the history of the women’s movement to the art of reading itself
7. Books helped me improve my writing
8. Books helped me find my passions
9. Books helped me connect with other like-minded folks
10. Books helped me appreciate the need for the written word
How have books made you better?
(Image via prettypleasejustsmile)
(via miscellaneousbooks-deactivated2)
